Die-casting machine



Nov. 17, 1931. H, M RIN E L 1,832,316

DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Z00/5 H. NOR/M ATTORNEY Nov. 17, 1931. L. H. MORIN ET AL DIE CASTINGMACHINE Filed April 25, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 lbLVENTORS LOU/8 H.110/7/M5 TOUR BY [M1 AM ATTORNEY Nov 17, 1931.

L. MORIN ET AL DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1930 6 Sheets-sheet 3INVENTORS LOU/.5 H. Mai/M .577 row? A'TTORNEY BY Z;

Nov. 17, 1931.

L. H. MORIN ET AL DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1930 6Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS ZOUl-S ffMOF/M 619M 700/? ATTORNEY 7 N 17,193B. L. H. MORIN ET AL 1,832,316

DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed A rii 25, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORSLOU/5 MOE/M 5/7/ 1 TOUR AT-TORNEY Nov. 17,- 1931. H. MORIN ET AL I1,332,316

DIE QASTING MACHINE "Filed April 25, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet e V INVENTORSIOU/SflMUF/IV. /BY wS/YM'TOUR.

Patented Nov. 17, 1931 STATES P T NT-onion LoUIs H. MORIN, or NEW YORK,N. Y., AND SAM TOUR, or ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS T DOEHLERDIE-CASTING-CQ, A CORPORATION or unwyoax DIE-CASTING MACHINE Applicationfiled April 25,

This invention relates to that much-used type of die-casting machines inwhich the molten metal is forced into the die by means of a gaseousfluid, compressed air most commonly being employed, but the term air asused herein is intended to include any other suitable pressure fiuid.This invention relates to what may be termed the furnace end of thedie-casting machine, and the other parts ofthe complete machine, notshown in theaccompanying drawings, may be of any suitable construct-iondesired. This invention relates more particularly to diecasting machinesof the kind) in which the casting 16 pot or pressure chamber is amovable ladle, and in carrying out the invention a ladle of thegooseneck type is employed. Gooseneck casting pots discharge the moltenmetal hori zontally or vertically or at an intermediate 20 angle througha casting nozzle, and the invention is embodied in a die-castingmachine, of the horizontal type, as distinguished from what is known asthe vertical type.

One object of the inventionis to provide as improved means forconnecting the movable ladle with the supply of compressed air. Incarrying out this object, another object of the invention is to providemeans for imparting suitable movements to the ladle. An-

other object is to provide improved means for locking the ladle at itscasting position. An-

other and moregeneral object of the invention is toprovid'e amechanicalconstruction which is safe, eflicient,'si1nple, strong,durable and economical to manufacture. Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will hereinafter appear. g

In carrying out the invention, the movable casting pot or'ladle, besideshaving a substantially usual gooseneck casting nozzle,

is proi'ided at its top with a neck terminating in anail-nozzle-projecting in the'same direction as'the casting nozzle. Theladle has a rectilinear horizontal movement ,in the last part of itstravel to and in the first part of molten metal and af'statio'naryair-supply its travel from its casting position, so that,

1930. Serial No. 447,124.

nozzle respectively. Thus no .movable air pipe connections, such asflexible, jointed, or sliding pipe connections, are required in theair-supply piping. A toggle is provided, the sole function of which isto lock the ladle at its casting position, the locking and theunlocking'or breaking of this toggle being controlled by an operatingmechanism for moving the ladle independently of this toggle. Theinvention further includes various features of construction andcombinations of parts, as will appear from the following description.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention will now be described; withreference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter the invention willbe pointed out in claims.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the furnace and of a die-casting machineembodying the invention, with the operating parts in the position theyassume in the casting position of the ladle. .1

F'g. 2 is a central vertical section in the plane of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged transverse vertical section substantiallyon the zig-zag line 3-3 of Fig. 1; f

. Fig. 4 is aplan view ofthe melting pot Fig; 5 is an enlarged viewsimilar to Fig. 2

with parts omitted;

V Fig. 6' is a plan view' of the movable castingvpot or ladle;

, ig. 7 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 but with the operatingparts of the mechanism in the position they assume with the ladle atits-filling position ;1 and i Fig. '8 is a centralyertical section inthe plane of Fig. 7, similar to Fig. 2 but showing the operating partsin the position they take with the ladle at itsfilling position.

A suitable furnace 1 is provided in its upper part with a removableoblong melting pot 2 wh1ch is supported by its top flanges upon the topplate of the furnace (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and ,5

means of similar front and rear tie rods 5 and 6 of which the front tierod 5 is spaced somewhat rearwardly from the front ends of these frameplates.

A vertical gate-providing and die-supporting plate 7 is supported uponthe front ends of the side plates 3 and 4 and the front end of thefurnace 1, being stationarily secured in place in the embodiment of theinvention shown. Longitudinally arranged die-frame i held in the forwardreduced portion of, a

rearwardly flaring opening through this nozzle-carrying plate 7, asshown in the drawings. I

A nozzle carrier 12 for the supply of compressed air isrigidlystationarily supported upon and secured to theupper portion ofthe vertical front plate 7 at the rear side thereof. This nozzle carrier12 has through it an L-shaped bore forming an air passage, to the upperend of which an air-supply pipe may be connected, as indicated inthedrawings. A stationary rearwardly directed cup-shaped air nozzle 13 ishorizontally disposed and firmly fi'xed in a suitable recess in the rearface of this nozzle carrier 12. It will be noted that this air-supplynozzle 13 is spaced both above and rearwardly from the gate nozzle 11for the molten metal, these two stationary nozzles both being directedor exposed horizontally rearwardly and being in parallel relation withone another.

Each of the side frame plates 3 and 4 has provided through it a frontguide slot 14 and a rear guide slot 15. The front guide slot -14comprlses an upper horizontal front end portion a, a rearwardly anddownwardly inclined portion 6 and a nearly vertical lower end portion a.The rear guide slot 15 comprises an upper front end portion d and arearwardly and downwardly inclined portion e. The upper forward endportions a and d of these respective guide slots are in horizontalalignment with one another and are of equal length. The downwardly andrearwardly inclinedportion e of the rear guide slot 15 terminatessubstantially at the level of the upper portion of the downwardlydirected lower end portion a of the front guide slot 14.

A .carrier frame for the ladle forming a cross frame between the sideframe plates 3 and 4 is slidably guided by these front and rear guideslots 14 and 15. This ladle-carrying cross frame comprises similarparallel front and rear cross rods 16 and 17 the outer ends of which areconnected together by similar side bars or links 18 at the respectiveouter sides of the side frame plates 3 and 4 in spaced relation thereto,the front rod 16 passing through the front guide slot 14 and the rearrod 17 passing through the rear guide slot 15, so as to be slidablyguided in these respectiveguide slots. Within each of the front guideslots 14 the front cross rod 16 carries guide collars or rollers 19,while the rear cross rod 17 inthe rear guide slot 15 is similarly pro-This ladle is flattened at its sides and at its top and front isprovided with aforwardly opening U-shaped hook 22 which snugly engageswith the forward cross rods 16 above, below and at the rear of this rod.At its rear end and top this ladle 21 is provided with a pair oflaterally spaced parallel lugs 23 which are notched as shown to fitsnugly at the front of and below the rear cross rod 17 L Also the sidesof the ladle 21, at the rear angularly below and forwardly from therounded bottoms of the notches provided by the parallel side lugs 23, isprovided with oppositely projecting lugs 24 which are rounded on thelower sides opposite to the cross rod 17 A pair of similar clamp links25 on this rear rod 17 Z at each side of the ladle 21 engagerespectively around the side lugs 24. "The upper rearwardly inclined endof each of these clamping links 25 is provided with a clamp screw 26 theinner ends of which engage with "athe rod 17 for thereby making a firmand rigid supporting connection of the rear end of 4 the ladle 21 withthis rear cross rod 17. Thus will be seen that the ladle 21 is firmlyand rigidly yet removably supported upon f the cross frame or carrierframe to be moved therewith.

At its front end and rising from its bottom the ladle 21 is providedwith an upwardly and forwardly curved gooseneck 27 providing a ductwhich terminates at the front in a casting nozzle 28, which is adischarge nozzle for the molten metal. This casting nozzle 28 is shownas a separate removable piece of substantially usual form. Inthe castingposition of the ladle 21. shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 5, thenozzle 28 projects for-L ward horizontally and has its projectingrounded tip seated in the cup formed by the above described gate nozzle11, in position for the ejection of molten metal from the ladle 21through these nozzles 28 and 11 into the die through its gate opening 10shown in air-conveying neck 29 connects with the top of the ladle 21 atits rear end. The lower end portion of the air passage through this neck29 turns forwardly above a deflector 30 in the top of the ladle 21, soasto' direct the stream of compressed air entering the ladle agamst adownwardly and rearwardly inclined baffle 31 provided on the. front andupper portion of the'wall of the ladle. From the top of the ladle 21 atthe rear'the neck 29 projects upwardly and forwardly and terminates in aforwardly projecting air inlet nozzle 32. The projecting-end or tip ofthis nozzle 32 is rounded as shown and in the casting position of theladle 21, shown in Figs. 2 and 5, this nozzle tip tightly fits or seatsin the cup of the air-supply nozzle 13, this air-receiving nozzle 32 onthe neck 29 then being 1n communi atlon and in horlzontal alignment withthe. air-supply nozzle 13, as shown. Itwill be noted in this connectionthat the air inlet nozzle 32-is spaced rearwardly and above the castingnozzle 28 to the same extent that the air-supply nozzle 13 is similarlyspaced from the gate nozzle 11.

It will now be evident that as the ladlesupporting guide rods 16 and 17move forward in the upper front horizontal aligned end portions a and (Zof the respective guide slots 14 and 15, the air inlet nozzle 32 will beseated against the air-supply nozzle 13 at the same time that thecasting nozzle or discharge nozzle 28 for the molten metal is seatedagainst the gate nozzle 11, with the ladle 21 then in its castingposition (Figs. 2 and 5). Similarly and conversely, as the casting pot21 is moved horizontally rearward away from its casting position, theair-receiving connection of the air inlet nozzle 32 with the air-supplynozzle 13 will be broken at the same time or simultaneously with thebreaking of the connection between the discharge nozzle 28 and the gatenozzle 11. The castin g nozzle 28 and the air inlet nozzle 32 pro videthe only openings into the ladle 21. As.

soon as the air inlet nozzle 32 is separated from the air-supply nozzle13 the compressed air in the ladle 21 will be vented through this nozzle32. I i

As is well understood in the art, a suitable valve device maybe providedto shut off the supply of compressed air to the air-supply nozzle13'before the above described nozzle connections are broken, and suchvalve dew vice may be automatically operated, as is commonly done inautomatic die-casting machines ofthe general type ndicated in thedrawings.v However, the present invention is not necessarily restrictedin .its. application operating levers 33 rock corresponding to thedischarge or casting position of the ladle 21, and the rearwardsubstantially horizontal position of these operating levers 33 shown inFigs. 7 and 8, corresponding to the filling position of the ladle 21.

It will be not-ed that in moving rearward and downward from theirforward upright position, to their horizontal position, these slottedoperating levers 33 will slidably move the front cross rod 16- of thecarrier frame from the upper front ends to the lower rear ends of thefront guide slots 14, while at the same time the rear cross rod 17 ofthe carrier frame will be slidably moved from the upper front portion tothe lower rear portion of the rear guide slot 15, as shown in Figs. 7and 8. A reverse rocking movement of these operating levers 33 will ofcourse bring the above noted parts back to the position thereof shown inFigs. 1, 2, 3 and 5. Since the ladle 21 partakes of the movements of itscarrier frame, the ladle will thus be moved back and forth between itscasting position (Figs. 2,

ating link 38 which extends downward. The Y lower ends of theseoperating links38palre pivoted respectively to the endsof ope-ratingarms 39 which rock between the substantially vertical position thereofshownin Figs. 1. 2 and 3, and the forward slightly downwardly inclinedposition thereof shown in Figs. 7 and 8, corresponding respectivelytothe casting position and to the filling position of the ladle 21. Theseoperating arms 39 are fixed upon a transverse rocking operating shaft 40which is journaled inv bearings 41 pro- 'vided on the bottom of thefurnace 1 towards .the front thereof, with theseoperating arms 39outward from the bearings 41 at the respective sides of the furnace.

v This rocks'haft 40 constitutes the main operating member of theoperating mechanism. In operation this main operating shaft 49 is rockedback and forth substantially through an angle of 90 between thecounter-clockwise position thereof shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in which theoperating arms 39 are in an upright position, and the clockwise positionthereof shown in Figs. 7 and Sin which the operating arms 39 extendforwardly dr towards the right. So far as this present invention isconcerned this main operating shaft 40 could be thus rocked back andforth by means of a handle lever attached to one of its ends, howeverthe invention is shown as adapted for embodiment in an automaticdiecasting machine.

In the construction shown, a crank arm 42 for rocking the operatingshaft 40 is fixed on this shaft intermediate of its bearings 41. Thiscrank arm 42 projects in general in a downward direction and forms abell-crank lever with the two operating arms 39. The rear end of aforwardly extending substantially horizontal pitman 43 is pivoted to thecrank arm 42, so that longitudinal back and forth substantiallyhorizontal movement of this pitman will rock the crank arm 42, togetherwith the main operating shaft 40. In the casting position of the ladle21 the crank arm 42 will incline downwardly and forwardly as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, while in the filling position of the ladle this crank armwill incline downwardly and rearwardly or towards the left as shown inFigs. 7 and 8.

In the construction shown it will be noted that the operating sliaft 40is rocked in an opposite direction to the rocking movement which thisshaft transmits through the above described connections to the operatinglevers 33. It is to be understood of course that the pitman 43 may beoperated from any convenient movable part of the complete diecastingmachine, by means of connections not shown, but which are wellunderstood in the art of automatic die-casting machines. It 1s wellknown of course that all parts of the mechanism of an automaticdie-casting machine are operated in proper sequence in timed relation asto their movements and periods of rest, andin the case of thisinventionsuch timed operation of the pitman 43 and of a suitable Valvedevice in control of the supply of compressed air to the air-supplynozzle 13, as well as also for opening and closing the die, etc., it isto be understood may be effected by means of any suitable constructiondesired.

It will be noted that the above described operating mechanism willslidably move the ladle 21 back and forth between its casting positionand its filling position. In carrying out the invention a toggle deviceis provided for locking the ladle 21 at the casting position, thistoggle device having no other function. However, such toggle device iscontrolled by means which are operated by the above described operatingmechanism, for maintaining the toggle in a locked condition when theladle is at its casting position and then operating to break the togglepreparatory to the movement of the ladle away from its casting position.

In the construction shown a pair of front and rear toggle links 44 and45 are provided and are pivoted together by a pivot pin 46.

which is journaled in bearing blocks 48 provided in the upper rearportion of the side frame plates 3 and 4. This toggle shaft 47, it willbe noted, is in horizontal alignment with the aligned upper forwardhorizontal portions a and d of the respective front and rear guide slots14 and 15. Thus when the toggle formed by these two links 44 and 45 1sin a straightened out condition it will extend horizontally between therear guide rod 17 of the carrier frame and the toggle shaft 47, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2 more particularly.

The desired dead-center position of these toggle hnks 44 and 45 may beaccurately assured by means of an adjustin screw 49 in an upperforwardly projecting end portion of the rear toggle link 45 whichoverlaps upon the front toggle link 44 forwardly beyond their pivot pin46. The lower end of this screw 49 thus forms an abutment for the fronttoggle link 44 at the dead-center posit on of these links and alsoprevents the poss1b1l1ty of these links passing over and beyond, or inthe present instance downward and below, the dead center on which theyare to be locked.

Each of the bearing blocks 48 for the tog gle shaft 47 is mounted forhorizontal adjustment forward or back in a slotted guideway 50,respectively rovided in the side frame plates 3 and 4. uch adjustmentmay be effected by a pair of adjusting screws 51 which are screwthreaded respectively through the rear end portions of the respectiveside frame plates 3 and 4 and have heads rotatably engagmg with therespective bearing blocks 48. This adjustment by means of these screws51 and slidable bearing blocks 48 assures that when the toggle links 44and 45 are in their straightened dead-center or locked pos1t1on (Figs.1, 2, 3 and 5) the casting nozzle 28 and the air inlet nozzle 32 on theladle 21 W11]. both be firmly held by the locked toggle respectivelyagainst the gate nozzle 11 and the stationary air-supply nozzle 13.

In carrying out the invention, a controlling device for this toggle isprovided and is operated by the above described operating mechanism.This controlling device imparts a final locking movement to the togglelinks 44 and 45, thereby to bring these links on dead center, for firmlyclamping the discharge nozzle 28 to the stationary gate nozzle 11 andfor similarly and at the same time firmly clamping the air inlet nozzle32 against the stationary air-supply nozzle 13. This controllmg devicethen holds the toggle locked against breakage, with the ladle 21 thusfirm -ly clamped at its casting position. Also this controlling deviceis operated to break the toggle preparatory to the moving of the ladle21 away from its casting position, by the above described operatingmechanism for the movable ladle.

In the construction shown, the rocking operating shaft 40 at one endthereof, which appears in Figs. land 7 and is shown at'the left in Fig.3, has fixed thereon a two-armed cam lever 52 having a lower cam end 53and an upper cam end 54. The operating arm 39 at this side of themachine is provided with an outwardly flat disc-like enlargement or'head'55 and the cam member 52, which is flat 011 its inner and outersides, is spaced outward from this head 55 by a hub on the inner side ofthis cam member, as shown in Fig. 3. An upwardly and somewhat rearwardlyextending link 56 is provided longitudinally in its lower end portionwith a guide slot 57 by whichthis link is slidably guided on the hub ofthe cam lever 52 transversely to the, axis of the rock shaft 40, thislink 56 being slidably guided at the front by the cam member 52 and atthe rear by the head of the adjacent operating arm 39.

Below its guide slot 57- the link 56 carries a cam follower roller 58 tobe engaged by the, lower cam end 53 of the cam lever 52 and above thisguide slot 57 this link 56 carries another cam follower roller 59 to beengaged by the upper cam end 54 of the cam lever 52. The axes of the camlever 52 and of the two cam follower'rollers 58 and 59 are all inalignment. The cam lever 52 of course partakes of the above describedrocking operating movement of the main operating shaft 40, through anangle of substantially 90. This cam lever 52 will be thus rocked fromits engaged or looking position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in a-clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 1, to its disengaged position shown in Fig.7 and then it will be rocked back again in, a counter-clockwisedirection from this disengaged position to its locking position shown inFigs. 1 and 3.

r The upper end ofthe link 56 is pivoted to the end of a forwardlyprojecting toggle-controlling lever arm 60 which is fixed upon theprojecting end-of the toggle shaft 47. The link 56 is pivoted to thislever arm 60, through the intermediary of a'bearing member 61relativelyto'which the link .56 is longitudinally adjustable suchadjustment being maintained by means of a clamp bolt 62,.serrationsbeing I provided for holding the adjustment, as

shown in Fig. This slight longitudinal adjustment of the link56'prov'ides for correctly positioning its cam follower rollers I 58 and59 relatively to the cam member 52, as will be readily understood:

The two cam armsof the cam lever 52 are shown as being ofthe samelength, although that in itself is'substantially immaterial. It will benoted, however, that each of the cam faces 53 and 54 comprises an outer'arcuate portion and a depressed portion shown as concavely curved. Itwill be further noted that the outer arcuate portions of these two camfaces 53 and 54 are both at the same side of a diametrical line throughthe axis of the cam 52, and adjacent to one edge of the cam lever 52,while the depressed cam portions are at the other side of thisdiametrical line adjacent the other edge of the cam lever. Accordingly,a depressed portion of either of these cam faces is substantiallydiametrically opposite to the outer arcuate, portion of the othercam'face. Thus in Fig. 1, it will be noted that the outer arcuateportions of the cam faces 53 and 54appear at the left of the cam lever52, with the depressed cam face portions at the right.

The curve of the depressed portions of these cam faces 53 and 54 isshown as substan-v tially the same as that of the peripheral surface ofthe cam follower rollers 58 and 59. The spacing apart from one anotherof the outer arcuate portions of the cam faces 53 and 54 is somewhatgreater than the distance from one to the other between the peripheriesof-the cam follower rollers 58 and 59, while the diametrical distancebetween one of the depressed cam portions and the opposite arcment withthe lower cam roller 58. thereby, as

will be evident, locking the toggle links 44 and 45 on dead center, asshown, with the" ladle 21 firmlv clamped at its casting position,

' as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, with no possibility of the accidentalbreakage of the toggle while the cam 52 is held-at this its lockingposition.

This locked condition is maintained during thetime that compressed airis being supplied to the air-supply nozzle 13. In this locking positionof the cam lever 52 shown in Fig. 1 the upper cam roller 59 is seatedinthe de- I pressed concave portion of the upper cam face 54.Immediately that the rocking operating shaft 40 starts its clockwisemovement away from the position shown in Figs. 1,2 and '3, the outer endportion of the lower cam face 53 willbe moved towards the left as viewedin Fig. 1, away from and out of the path of the lower cam roller 58,while at the same time the movement towards the right of the upper camface 54 will cause the upper cam roller 59 to ride out of the depressedportion of this cam face and upon the outer arcuate portion thereof. Asthis upper cam roller 59 is thus moved upward it carries with it ofcourse the link 56 and the lower cam roller 58, which has clearanceprovided for it by the recessed portion of the lower cam face 53.

When the link 56 is moved longitudinally upwardly by the upper cam face54 as just described, this movement is transmitted through the lever arm60 and toggle shaft 47 to the rear toggle link or toggle yoke 45, andbreaks the toggle upwardly. In this connection it should be'noted thateach of the operating arms 39 forms a toggle with the correspondingoperating link 38. In the,

locked clamping position of the clamping toggle formed by the links 44and 45 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that these other togglesformed by the respective operating arms 39 and operating links 38 arealso in a locked condition, substantially on but a little beyond theirdead center. Thatis to say, with the ladle 21 clamped by the togglelinks 44 and 45 at its casting position as shown in Fig. 2, therelationship of the respective operating arms 39 and operating links 38is such that the pivots of these links will be respectively insubstantial alignment with the axis of the rock shaft 40,-but aredesirably slightly out of alignment beyond their dead-center position asshown in Fig. 1.

Accordingly, during the initial portion of the clockwise rockingmovement of the operating shaft 40 away from the position shown in Fig.1, this shaft operates only to break the toggle formed by its operatingarms 39 with the operating links 38, at the same time that this samemovement is operating to break the toggle formed by the links 44 and 45,as above described. These toggles formed by the links 38 and operatingarms 39 of course cooperate with the toggle formed by the links 44 and45 for clamping the ladle 21 at the casting position, as well as alsofor locking all parts of the operating mechanism rigidly againstmovement, al-

though the toggle links 44 and 45 are principally relied upon forstrongly and effectively clamping the ladle 21 at its casting position.

As the rocking operating shaft 40 continues its clockwise movement,after first breaking all of-the toggle connections as above described,this shaft finally reaches its other extreme position shown in Figs. 7and 8. During this further and major part of this clockwise movement ofthe shaft 40, the cam lever 52 is entirely free from the cam rollers 58and 59 and rocks idly to the nearly horizontal position of this camlever shown in Fig. 7. Also during this same movement of the operatingshaft 40 the toggle-controlling link 56 may move idly in a longitudinaldirection, by reason of its guide slot 57. By a comparison of Figs. 1and 7, it will be evident that this link 56 will first move in an upwarddirection as the toggle formed by the links 44 and 45 breaks upwardlyduring the first portion of the rearward movement of the rear cross rod17 of the carrier frame, and that following this the link 56 will moveidly downward to the position thereof shown in Fig. 7, as the togglelinks 44 and 45 assume the position thereof shown in Fig. 8, with theladle 21 at its rearward, lowered and tilted filling position shown inFig. 8.

When in the sequence of the operating movements of the completedie-casting machine, the operating shaft 40 is rocked by its pitman 43in the opposite or counter-clockwise direction, away from the positionof this shaft shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the above described slidingmovement of the rear cross rod 17 of the carrier frame in the rear guideslots 15 moves the front toggle link 44 so as to lift the reartogglelink 45 together with the lever arm 60. As this movement continuesthe toggle formed by the links 44 and 45 will be straightened out by theforward movement of the rear cross rod 17 of the carrier frame and thelever arm 60 correspondingly moved downward. The togglecontrolling link56 idly partakes of this idle repositioning movement of the toggleformed by the links 44 and 45, this link 56 sliding first upwardly andthen downwardly as it is moved by the lever arm 60.

Towards the final part of this counterclobkwise movement of theoperating shaft 40, the pivotal connection of the operating arms 39 willapproach a dead-center position with the operating links 38, and at thistime the clamping toggle formed by the links 44 and 45 will be almoststraightened out, in a close approach to its dead-center position.Substantially at this time the concave recessed portion of the lower camend 53 of the cam lever 52 will be brought into engagement with thelower cam roller 58 on the link 56. In the final part of the continuedmovement of the operating shaft 40, while the operating links 38 andoperating arms 39 are passing over their dead center, the movement ofthe cam 52 with the operating shaft 40 will cause the lower cam roller58 to be moved downward out of the recessed portion of the lower camface 53, so as to ride upon the outer arcuate portion of this cam face,as shown in Fig. 1, at the termination of this movement. At the sametime the outer arcuate portion of the upper cam face 54 has moved beyondthe upper cam roller 59 and this upper cam roller has been drawndown-"and seated in the recessed portion of this upper cam face, as isalso shown in Fig. 1.

This downward movement imparted to the link 56 by the lower cam end 53of the cam 52 pulls the rear toggle link 45 downward to adead-centerpositionwith the front toggle the connection or communicationof the ladleguide slots 15, respectively.- The rear cross link 44, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby at the same time firmly clamping thedischarge nozzle 28 and the air inlet-nozzle 32 of the ladle 21 againstthe stationary gate nozzle 11 for the molten metal and against theairsupplynozzle 13 respectively, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The togglesformed by-the operating links 38 and operating arms 39 cooperate in thisclamping action. It will be.

noted that the movement of the operating arms 39 at their dead-centerposition relatively to the operating links 38 is utilized in the oneinstance for forcing the toggle formed by the links 44 and 45 to itsdead-center position and in the other instance for breaking this toggle.It will now be clear that the only function of the toggle provided bythe links 44 and 45 is for strongly clamping the ladle 21 at its castingposition. Excepting in its final movement to and in its initial movementaway from this clamping position, the

other movements of the links 44 and 45 of i this toggle are'idlemovements, imparted by the rear cross rod 17 of the carrier frame forthe .ladle 21, as above noted, as the latter is alternately moved awayfrom and back to its casting position by the operating shaft 40, throughthe above described linkage connections comprised in the operatingmechanism;

It will be'noted that the casting pot or ladle 21 is not only moved backand forth between a casting position and a filling position, but thatits movements are such when adjacent to its casting position as to beeffective, in carrying out the invention, for sue-'- cessivelyalternately making and breaking air connection thus being broken at alltimes except when theladle 21 is in its discharge position. It will benoted that the last part of the movement of the ladle 21 toward itsdischarge position and the first part of its movement away from thisdischarge position toward its filling position, is in a rectilinearhorizontal direction, while the cross rods 16 and 17 are being slidablyguided respectively in the 11 per front end portions (1 of the frontguide s ots 14, and in the upper front end portions (5 of the rear guideslots 15.

Thereafter, as the ladle 21 continues its movement towards .its fillingposition, it moves at an angle rearward and downward, while still beingheld level, that is, with its casting'nozzle 28 and its air nozzle 32still projectino horizontally, while the cross rods 16 and-llare slidingalong the rearw'ardly and downwardly'inclined parallel portions 6 of thefront guide slots 14, ande of the rear rod 17' continues along theinclinedportions e of the rear guldeslots 15 until it reaches orsubstantially reaches the ends of these slots,

while as soon as the front cross rod 16 reaches the downwardly directedlower end portions 0 of the front' guide slots 14 it will be moveddownward therein by the slotted operating levers 33, to or substantiallyto the lower ends of these guide slots, as will be clearfrom Figs. 7 andf8.

Thecarrier frame for the ladle 21 thus pivots about its rear cross rod17, so that thereby the ladle 21 is tilted downward at its front endwith its discharge nozzle 28 submergedin the molten metal in the meltingpot 2, as shown in Fig. 8. This sequence of movement of the ladle 21 isof course simply reversed in the movement of the ladle from its fillingposition shown in Fig. 8 to its casting or discharge position shown inFigs. 2. and 5.- It will be evident from the drawings, particularly froma comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 with Figs. 7' and 8, that the movements ofthe carrier frame, and hence of the ladle 21, are at all timespositivelycontrolled by the operating levers 39 in cooperation with theguidecslots 14 and 15, without permitting any looseness or lost motionofthe ladle 21. It is obvious that various modifications may be made inthe construction shown in- 1. In a die-casting machine, the combinationofa melting pot, a ladle movable be-- tween filling and castingpositions, means along a fixed path throughout its movements to and awayfrom a low position for filling and horizontally only along arectilinear path during the last part of its movement to and the firstpart of itsmovement away from its casting'position, a toggle the only;function of which is for locking the ladle atits casting position,operating means for the ladle independent of the said toggle for slidingthe ladle between its filling and its casting position, a locking deviceoperated by the said operating means to prevent breakage of the saidtoggle in the casting position of the ladle, and a releasing deviceoperated by the said operating means to act upon the said togglefor-breaking the latter preparatory to the movement of the ladle awayfrom its casting position.

2. In a die-casting machine, the combination of a melting pot, a ladlemovable therein between a filling and a casting position, the ladlehaving a discharge nozzle for metal and an air inlet nozzle above thedischarge nozzle andprojecting in the same direction, both of thesenozzles being horizontal in the casting position of theladle, astationary gate nozzle for the die to cooperate with 'the said forpositively slidably guiding the ladle discharge nozzle of the ladle,astationary air-supply nozzle to cooperate with the air inlet nozzle ofthe ladle, and means for posi tively slidably guiding the ladle along afixed path throughout its movements to include sliding movement in ahorizontal direction only along a rectilinear path during the last partof its movement to and the first part of its movement away from itscasting position and further including sliding movement to a depressedfilling position with its discharge nozzle then tilted downward in themolten metal in the melting pot.

3. In a die-casting machine, the combination of a melting pot, a ladlemovable therein between a filling and a casting position, the ladlehaving a discharge nozzle for metal and an air inlet nozzle above thedischarge nozzle and projecting in the same direction, both of thesenozzles being horizontal in the casting position of the ladle, astationary gate nozzle for the die to cooperate with the said dischargenozzle of the ladle, a stationary air-supply nozzle to cooperate withthe air inlet nozzle of the ladle, means for positively I guiding theladle along a fixed path throughout its movements to include slidingmovement in a horizontal direction only along a rectilinear path duringthe last part of its movement to and the first part of its movement awayfrom its casting position and further including sliding movement to adepressed filling position with its'discharge nozzle then tilteddownward in the molten metal in the melting pot, operating means forsliding the ladle throughout its movements between its filling and itscasting position, and means independent of the said operating means andoperated thereby for locking the ladle at its casting position and forunlocking the ladle preparatory to its movement away from its castingposition.

4. In a die-casting machineythe combination of a melting pot, a pair ofvertical parallel side frames above the melting pot, a front and a rearguide slot in each side frame having horizontal front upper end portionsin alignment horizontally and having rear downwardly extending portions,a cross frame between the side frames and having guide members slidablyguided in the respec tive guide slots, a ladle depending from andrigidly carried by the cross frame, the ladle having a casting nozzleand an air nozzle above the casting nozzle with both of these nozzlesprojecting towards the front in parallel relation with the said guidemembers on the cross frame, a horizontal gate nozzle to cooperate withthe casting nozzle, a horizontal air-supply nozzle to cooperate with theair nozzle of the ladle in the casting position only of the latter, andan operating mechanism for sliding the cross frame between the oppositeend portions of the said guide slots thereby to move the ladle slidablybetween a depressed filling position and an elevated forward castingposition.

5. In a die-casting machine, the combination of a melting pot, a pair ofvertical parallel side frames above the melting pot, a front and a rearguide slot in each side frame having horizontal front upper end portionsin alignment horizontally and having rear downwardly extending portions,a cross frame having guide members slidably guided in the respectiveguide slots, a ladle depending from and rigidly carried by the crossframe, an operating mechanism for sliding the cross frame between theopposite end portions of the said guide slots thereby to move the ladleslidably between a depressed filling position and an elevated forwardcasting position, a substantially horizontal toggle independent of theoperating mechanism and having a front link pivoted to the slidablecross frame and having a rear link pivot ed on the said side frames sothat thereby the straightening of this toggle will lock the ladle at itscasting position, means independent of but operated by said operatingmechanismfor locking the toggle and holding it locked in the castingposition of the ladle, and means also independent of but operated bysaid operating mechanism for breaking the to gle to permit the ladle tobe moved away rom its casting position by the operating mechanism.

6. In a die-casting machine, the combination of a ladle to be movedbetween a rearward depressed filling position and an elevated forwardcasting position, a substantially horizontal toggle having a forwardlink pivoted at its front end to the ladle and having a rear linkpivoted on a stationary part so that thereby when this toggle isstraightened it will lock the ladle at its casting position, a mainrocking operating memat one of its ends a pivotal connection to the rearlink of the toggle and at its other end being slidably guidedtransversely to the axis of the said main operating member, a pair ofcam followers on the said link respectively at opposite sides of theaxis of the mainoperating member, and a two-faced cam carried bv thesaid main operating member to rock therewith and having a cam face toengage with one of the cam followers to lock the said toggle againstbreakage in the casting position of the ladle and having another camface to engage the other cam follower for breaking the said toggle topermit the ladle to be moved away from its casting position by therocking-of the said main operating member in a reverse direction.

7. In a die-casting machine, the combination of a melting pot, a pair ofside frames surmounting the melting pot, a front and a position, a mainrockin ing a rearlink pivoted on the said side frames r so that therebywhen this toggle is straightened it will lock. the ladle at-its castingoperating member, a linkage connection rom this operating member to thesaid carrier framefor sliding the latter back and forth independently'ofsaid toggle thereby to move the ladle between its filling and castingpositions, a link having at one of its ends a pivotal connection to therear link of the toggle and at its other end being slidably guidedtransversely to the axis of the said main operating member, a pair ofcam followers on the said link respectively at opposite sides of theaxis of the main operating member, and a two-faced cam carried by thesaid main operating member to rock therewith and having a cam face toengage with one of the cam followers to lock the said toggle againstbreakage in the casting position of the ladle and having another camface to engage the other cam follower for breaking the said toggle topermit the ladle to be moved away from its casting position by thero'ckingof the said main operating member in a reverse direction.

8. In a die-casting machine, the combination of a ladle mounted formovement between filling and casting positions, operating mechanism forthus moving the ladle, a toggle independent of said mechanism and thesole function of which is to lock the ladle at its casting position, acontrolling link connected to the toggle, means for guiding'the otherend of this link, a pair of cam followers spaced longitudinally on thislink, and a rocking cam member between the cam followers to engagetherewith to prevent the breaking of the toggle in the casting positionof the ladle and to break the toggle preparatory to the movement of theladle away from its casting position.

, 9. In a die-casting machine, the combination of a ladle mountedformovement between a filling and a casting position, operatingmechanism for thus movin the ladle, a pair of toggle links indepen entof said mechanism for locking the ladle at the casting position andhaving no other function, and a controlling device for these togglelinks operated by the said operating mechanism to maintain the toggle ma locked condition when the ladle is at its casting position and tobreak the toggle preparatory to the movement of the ladle away from itscasting position.

10. In a die-casting machine, the combination of a'melting pot, a ladle,a multi-part carrier frame for the ladle separate from and 7 independentthereof comprising horizontal parallel front and rear cross rods towhich the ladle is rigidly but detachably secured and separable sidebars detachably connecting the said cross rods together thereby to formthe said carrier frame, and a pair of side frames surmounting themelting pot and between which the cross rods extend and each of which isprovided with a front and a rear guide slot in which the'said cross rodsof the carrier frame .are respectively guided for sliding movement.

11. The invention defined in claim 4, in which the said rear downwardlyextending portions of the said front and rear guide slots compriserearwardly and downwardly inclined parallel portions which in the frontguide slot opens into a further downwardly extending lower end portionwhich terminates at a lower level than the lower end of the said rearguide slot.

12. The invention defined in claim 4, in which the said rear downwardlyextending portions of the said front and rear guide slots compriserearwardly and downwardly inclined parallel portions which in the frontguide slot opens into a further downwardly extending lower end portionwhich terminates at a lower level than the lower end of the said rearguide slot, and in which the said operating mechanism includes a pair ofrocking operating levers cdnnected to the said cross frame adjacent tothe point wherethe latter is guided in the said front guide slots andmounted to rock between an upstanding position with the ladle at itscasting position and a rearwardly extending position with the ladle atits filling position.

13. The invention defined in claim 10, in combination with an operatingmechanism for the ladle including a pair of rocking operating leversconnected to the respective end portions of one of said cross rods ofthe carrier frame and mounted to rock between an upstanding positionwith the ladle at its casting position and a rearwardly extendingposition with the ladle at its filling position.

14. The invention defined in claim 10, in which said side bars connectsaid cross rods together at the outer sides of said side frames inoutwardly spaced relation from the side frames, in combination with anoperating mechanism for slidably moving the ladle between an elevatedforward casting position and a depressed filling position including apair of rocking operating levers hav-- ing a combined longitudinallyslidable and pivotal connection respectivel with the front cross rod ofthe carrier 'rame in the space between the side bar and side frame andmounted to rock between an upstanding position with the ladle at itscasting position and a rearwardly extending position with the ladle atits filling position.

15. In a die-casting machine, the combination of a melting pot, a pairof vertical parallel side frames above the melting pot, each of saidside frames being provided with a front and a rear guide slot havinghorizontal front upper end portions and rear downwardly extendingportions, a cross frame between the side frames and having guide membersslidably guided in the respective guide slots, a ladle depending fromand rigidly carried by the cross frame, the ladle having a castingnozzle projecting towards the front in parallel relation with the saidguide members on the cross frame; and an operating mechanism for theladle including a pair of rocking operating levers connected to the saidcross frame adjacent to the respective side frames and mounted to rockbetween an upstanding position with the ladle at an elevated forwardcasting position and a rearwardly extending position of said levers withthe ladle at a depressed filling position.

16. In a die-casting machine, the combination of a melting pot, a pairof vertical parallel side frames above the melting pot, each of saidside framesbeing provided with a front 'and a rear guide slot havinhorizontal front upper end portions an' rearwardly and downwardlyinclined parallel rear portions which in each of said front guide slotsopen into a further downwardly extending lower end portion, a crossframe betweenthe side frames having guide members slidably guided in therespective guide slots, a ladle depending from and rigidly carried bythe cross frame, the ladle having a casting nozzle projecting towardsthe front in parallel relation with the said guide members on the crossframe, and an operating mechanism for sliding the cross frame betweenthe opposite end portions of the said guide slots thereby to move theladle slidably between a depressed filling position with its castingnozzle tilted downward in the molten metal in the melting pot and anelevated forward casting position.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our signatures.

LOUIS H. MORIN. SAM TOUR.

